Automatic sandwich-making machine



May 21, 1940.

|- E. KNAUST AUTOMATIC SANDWICH-KING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HENRY E, KNAUST ATTORNEY May 21, 1940. H. E. KNAUST AUTOMATIC SANDWICH-MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. '7, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR HENRY E KNAUST ATTORNEY M y 1, 1940. H. E. KNAUST 2,201,402

AUTOMATIC SANDWICH-MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7. 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTDR HENRY E KNAUST Q QM A TORNEY I May 21, 1940.

H. E; KNAUST AUTOMATIC SANDWICH-MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 7, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 INVENTOR HENRY E, KNAUST BY Q1 4L4 ATTORNEY Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC SANDWICH-MAKING MACHINE Henry E. Knaust, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Vita Sales Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application October 7, 1938, Serial No. 233,759

21 Claim.

my invention resides in the novel features of form,-

16 construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (4 sheets),

Figure 1 is a partly broken top plan view of a sandwich-machine embodying my present invention;

Figures 2, 3, and 4 are fragmentary vertical sectional views of the machine, taken approximately along the lines 2-2, 3-3, and 4-4, respectively, Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the machine, taken approximately along the line 5--5, Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the machine, taken approximately along the line 6-43, Figure 5;

Figures '1, 8, and 9 are sectional views of the machine, taken approximately along the lines 1-1, 88, and 9-9, respectively, Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view 35 of the cooking plates of the machine;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view of the machine, taken approximately along the line II-I I, Figure 4; and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one of the cut-off spout-actuating mechanisms of the machine.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, I designates a flat oblong rectangular preferably cast-iron base member having rigidly mounted along the center line thereof a plurality of upstanding bracket members 2, 3, 4, 5, and a somewhat H-shaped cross-brace member 6 having two upright leg members 1, 8, and a central crossstrut 9. J ournaled in, and extending horizontally between, the brackets 3, 4, and projecting rotatively through and beyond the cross-strut 9, is a shaft III having a sprocket wheel I I rigidly mounted on its extended end. Also journaled in and extending through the brackets 2, 3, 4,, parallel to and spaced downwardly from the shaft I0, is a main drive shaft I2 connected at its one end to a conventional gear reduction mechanism I3, which is, in turn, operatively connected to a 5 prime mover, such as the electric motor I4, the latter being electrically connected through a conventional control switch I5 to a source of electric power (not shown).

Pinned or otherwise rigidly connected to the 10 shaft I2 for rotation therewith intermediate the brackets 2, 3, is a bevel gear I6. Also pinned to the shaft I2 on its extended end adjacent the bracket 2, is a mutilated bevel gear I'I having a segmental toothed section around a portion of 15 its periphery and a smooth or idle section around the remainder of its periphery for meshing engagement with a horizontal Geneva type bevel gear I8 pinned on the upper end of the stub shaft I9 journaled at its one end in the upstanding journal boss 20 of the base member I and extending through the horizontal extension 2 I of the bracket arm 2. Pinned to the stub shaft I9 for rotation therewith intermediate the journal boss 20 and the horizontal bracket arm 2| is a sprocket 22. Similarly journaled at its lower 'end' in a Journal boss 23 formed in the upper face of the base I and intermediate its ends being supportmgly journaled in the bracket 5, is a relatively long stub shaft 24 provided at its upper extremity with a sprocket 25 rigidly mounted thereon. Keyed to the shaft 24 for rotation in the same horizontal plane as the sprocket 22, is a companion sprocket 25, all as best seen in Figure 2.

Rigidly mounted on the upwardly presented face of the base I, is a slide track 21 having an upwardly presented horizontal track face 28 and being formed in the shape of an oval having two semi-circular endsections 29 extending in outwardly spaced concentric relation around the sprockets 22, 26, and two intermediate straight sections 29' parallel with and respectively adjacent to the longitudinal margins of the base I, as best seen in Figure 1 and for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Extending around the sprockets 22, 26, for travel along the track 21, is an endless baking conveyer 30, having a forward run 30' and a rearward run 30" and comprising a sprocket chain 3| formed of a plurality of conventional links 32 connected by link pins 33. Certain of the link pins 33 are extended upwardly in the formation of pivot post members 34, certain others of the link pins being extended upwardly in the provision of guide posts 35 and provided at their upper extremities with flat-topped head members 35', the upper face of which lies in the same plane as the upper face of the corresponding pivot posts 34, the pivot posts 34 and guide posts 35 being arranged in a uniformly spaced successive series of identical pairs including one pivot post 34 and one guide post 35. Pivotally mounted on each of the posts 34 and extending along the sprocket chain 3| in a continuous series, is a plurality of supporting blocks 36, each provided with a horizontal slot 36" for slidably receiving the head members 35' of the guide post 35 and, being further provided with two longitudinally aligned upstanding shoulder members 31, each provided,

open-topped shallow pan or baking tray having an integral, outwardly extending, horizontal slide- 1ip 48' for sliding engagement with the track face 28, as best seen in Figures 1, 6, and 7.

Extending longitudinally between the sprocket wheels 22, 25, beneath the straight runs of the sprocket chain 3|, are parallel upwardly presented U-shaped guidetracks 40" in which the lower portion of the sprocket chain links may slide for preventing sagging thereof and also maintaining the supporting blocks 36 and the associated baking trays at a constant level.

As will be understood by reference to Figures 1 and 3, the main drive shaft I 2 is connected by means of the Geneva gears l1, l3, so that the baking conveyer 30 will progress around its path preferably in a counter-clockwise direction in intermittent or periodic movement, being advanced a distance equal to the full length ,of a baking pan unit motion period.

Rigidlymounted on the base member l'over the forward run 30' of thebaking conveyer 30,

is an oven tunnel 4| provided on its top, bottom,

and sides with substantially heavy diathermanous material 42 and being provided on its inner floor and roof with electrical heating elements 43, 44, as best seen in Figures 2 and 8,

Mounted upon suitable supporting legs 45, which extend upwardly from the base I, and preferably positioned over the oven 4|, is a batter reservoir 45 comprising a preferably cylindrical shell 41 having in its upwardly presented wall a removable lid member 48 and being provided in its opposite end walls with angularly downwardly depending spout members 49, 58.

Journaled in, and extending through, the end walls of the cylindrical shell 41, is a shaft member 5| provided on that portion of its length which is disposed interiorly of the shell with a plurality of radially outwardly extending agitator blades 52 and being provided on one, of its outwardly extended ends with a driven sprocket member 53, which is connected by means of a sprocket chain 54 to a driving sprocket 55 rigidly mounted on the main drive shaft I2. Preferably, though not necessarily, the cylindrical shell 41 is further provided around its exterior with a worm-like cooling coil 55 through, which may be circulated ice water, cold brine, or any other suitable cooling medium for maintaining the dough at any desired constant temperature, all as best seen in Figure 2 and for reasons presently more fully apother straight section of the oval path of the baking trays 40, is a. pair of laterally spaced upstanding bracket members 51, 58, each being provided tween, the bracket members 51, 58, and substanw tially midway between-the upper and lower track members 59, '50, is a shaft 5| provided with spaced sprocket members 62, being further provided on its inner extended end with a driving gear 63 and on its outer extended end with a sprocket 54, which is operatively connected by means of a sprocket chain 65 to a smaller sprocket wheel 56, which is, in turn, pinned on a short shaft 81 journaled in an upwardly extending projection 58 of the bracket member 51 and extending therethrough, being provided on its inner end with a chain-supporting sprocket 59 over which is trained a sprocket chain 18, the latter extending horizontally forwardly and being at its other end drive shaft l2 and being provided intermediate the brackets 58 and 12 with a mutilated gear 15 having a toothed driving segment extending around a portion of its periphery and an untoothed holding segment on the remainder of its periphery for operative engagement with the driving gear 83. In this connection, it should be pointed out that the Geneva gears 53, 15, and the Geneva gears l1, I8, are of such relative ratios and so timed that intermittent drive periods and hold periods thereof respectively will be coinci-s dent.

Also rigidly mounted on and extendingnupwardly from the base I adjacent the opposite end thereof and in longitudinal alignment with the bracket members 51, 58, is a pair of bracket members 18 for rotatively supporting an idle shaft 11 journaled at its ends therein and extending transversely therebetween. Pinned to the idle shaft 11 for rotation therewith, is a pair of registering spaced apart sprocket members 18 identical in design with the sprocket members 62.

Trained over the pairs of sprocket members 62, 18, is a plate conveyer 19 consisting of a series of successive flatrectangular metallic plates 80 provided along their longitudinal margins with narrow upstanding flanges 8| and along their plates 80 further being provided with outwardly extending transversely aligned pairs of apertured eye-members 84, 84', the transverse distance between the members 84 being substantially smaller than the distance between the members 84 for interfitting connection in end to end relation ina continuous series by means of short rivet-like hinge pins 85 which project outwardly beyond the margins of the plates 80 for plate-supporting engagement with the pairs of L-shaped track members; 59, 60, and the tooth-like end recesses 85 of the. sprocket members 62, 18, in the provision of upper and lower horizontal runs 18, 18", the latter being positioned directly above the rearwardly running reach ofthe baking tray series, so

that each of the plates 89 will move down into cover-forming relationship over a baking tray 49 for a predetermined distance, all as best seenin Figures 4, 8, and 10.

Since the baking conveyor 39 is driven in a counter-clockwise direction, it will also be necessary that the series of plates 89 likewise be driven in a counter-clockwise direction, that is to say, as shown by the direction-indicating arrows in Figure 4. It will, of course, be evident, by reason of the fact that the drive gear 63 is of Geneva type, that the plates will be moved forwardly in intermittent motion, being progressed during each interval of movement by a distance equal to a full plate length, all for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Rigidly mounted over the path of movement of the baking conveyer 39 and on the opposite side of the machine with respect to the oven tunnel 4|, is a second oven 81, having top, bottom, and vertical side walls formed of a relatively thick diathermanous material 88 and being interiorly provided with two horizontal vertically spaced diathermanous partition members 89, 99, thus dividing the oven 81 into separate and distinct upper and lower tunnels 9|, 92, each of which is suitably provided on its roof and floor with electric heating elements 93, 93', 94, and 94, all as best seen in Figure 9. The oven tunnels 9I, 92, are furthermore so arranged that the upper forwardly traveling run 19' of the plate conveyer 19 will pass centrally through the upper tunnel 9I while the lower rearwardly traveling return run 19" of the plate conveyer 19 and the rearwardly moving run 39" of the baking trays will move simultaneously through the lower oven tunnel 92, as best seen in Figure 4 and for purposes presently more fully appearing,

Rigidly mounted in, and extending centrally through, the oven tunnel 9| for substantially half the length thereof beneath the drain channels 83 of the plates 89, is a drain trough 95 projecting beyond the exit end of the tunnel 9I and terminating over a catch basin 96 suitably mounted on the outer face of the oven for disposal of the excess grease and fat which will fry out of the filling-patty, all as best seen in Figures 4 and 11.

Supported in superadjacent relationship to the upper reach of the plate conveyer 19 and rearwardly of the entrance end of the upper oven tunnel 9| by means of suitable leg members 91, is a preferably cylindrical hopper 98 including an open-ended shell 99 exteriorly surrounded by a worm-like cooling coil I99 and provided with a removable top member I9I secured in place by means of the wing nuts I92 or other suitable securing members. The top member l9I is provided with a centrally positioned internally threaded aperture I93 and a preferably integrally formed auxiliary bracket I94 having a horizontal leg I95 spaced upwardly from the top member IM and provided with an internally threaded aperture I96 in registration with the top aperture I93. Threadedly mounted in and extending through the apertures I93, I96, is a long longitudinally slotted lead screw I95 provided at its lower extremity interiorly of the shell 99 with a piston-like plunger head I98 diametrally sized for snug-fitting engagement with the inner vertical side walls of the shell 99. Rotatively mounted between the upper face, of the top member I9I and the under face of the bracket leg I95 and held therebetween against vertical translation, is a sprocket member I99 which is slidably keyed to the longitudinally slotted lead screw I91 and is drivingly connected by means of the sprocket chain II9 to the sprocket wheel 25, as best seen in Figure 4. It will, of course, be evident in this connection that the sprocket 25, the\shaft 24, and the sprocket I99 will be rotated during the active movement. periods of the baking conveyor 39 and the plate-conveyer 19, thereby producing an intermittent downwardly translative rotational movement of the lead screw I91.

The lower end of the cylindrical shall 29 is provided with a frustro-conical section I I I which is shaped at its lowerend to provide a rectangular spout aperture II2 of such shape as to form a filling-patty of desired peripheral size for sandwich formation, a pair of opposed parallel slideways II3 being rigidly mounted adjacent the side margins of the spout aperture II2 for slidably accommodating a cut-off plate II4 having at its outer extremity a ring-like eye-member II5. It should be furthermore pointed out in this connection that the spout aperature II 4 is so positioned with respect to the plate conveyer 19 that it will be directly above in one of the plates 89 when the plate conveyor 19 is stationary, so that a particular filling-patty will fall in well centered position upon the plate during such stationary period.

Pivotally mounted at its lower extremity in an outwardly projecting boss IIB formed on the lower portion of the bracket leg 1, is a rock-arm II1 extending, at its upper end, through the eye II5 of the cut-off plate H4 and being provided intermediate its ends with an outwardly extending pin II8 for engagement with one end of a tension spring II 9, which, at its other end, is retentively disposed through an aperture I29 formed in a preferably integral projection I2I extending upwardy from the upper extremity of the bracket leg 8. Also pivotally mounted at its upper extremity upon the upper end of the bracket leg 8, is a bent arm I22 extending at its lower end through the ring-like eye I23 of a' cut-off plate I24 slidably mounted in guideways I25 mounted rigidly on the lower extremity of the batter-spout 49, the bent arm I22 being provided intermediate its ends with an outwardly projecting pin I26 for engagement with one end of a tension spring I21, which is, in turn, at its other end retentively mounted in an aperture I28 formed in an outwardly extending integral extension I29 of the bracket leg 8.

Pinned on the shaft I9 in substantially the same plane as the arms H1 and I22, is a quickaction cam I39 for actuating engagement both with thearm H1 and the bent arm I22.

Journaled horizontally in the base I and extending longitudinally thereof substantially beneath the sprocket II of the shaft I9, is an idle shaft I3I provided with a sprocket I32 which is operatively connected by means of a sprocket chain I33 to the sprocket II for rotatory actuation thereby. Also pinned to the idle shaft I3I for rotation therewith, is a pinion I34 having meshing engagement with a pinion I35 operatively mounted on a parallel idle shaft I36 similarly journaled in the base I and rigidly provided with a crescent-shaped throw-over arm I31 having at its upper end a roller pin I38 for operative engagement with the under face of any one of the baking trays 49 and being so positioned that during any stationary interval of the baking conveyer 39, one of the baking trays 49 will be positioned directly above the roller pin I38 of the throw-over arm I31. Each 'of the baking-trays 40 is further provided on its under face witha downwardly spaced preferably integral horizontal arm I39. Thus, when the idle shaft I36 is rotated, the throw-over arm swinging the throw-over arm I31 back to original position, the horizontal arm I39 will engage the roller pin I38, so that the particular baking tray 40 will also be swung reversely to original upright position, the arm I38 being of such length that when the baking tray 40 and the throw-over arm I31 have been returned to original position, the roller pin I38 will be disengaged, allowing the baking tray 40 to move freely forwardly along the track during the successive intermittent motion period.

Pivotally mounted at its upper end on the bracket 3, is a downwardly depending swinging arm member I42 extending at its lower end through the ring-like eye I43 of a cut-off plate I44 slidably mounted. in and extending across the batter spout 50. Intermediate its ends, the link I42 is provided with an outwardly extending pin I45 for engagement with one end of a tension spring I45, which, at its other end, is retentively mounted in an aperture I4I formed in the bracket extension I. Rigidly pinned to the shaft I0 for rotation therewith,is a quick-action cam I 48 of substantially the same shape as the quick-action cam I for actuating engagement with the link I42, as best seen in Figure 12.

Joumaled inthe braoket'member 4 and extending horizontally forwardly therefrom, is a freely rotating stub shaft I 49 provided with an idler pinion I50, which is spaced substantially away from the rearwardly presented face of the bracket 4. Pinned to the shaft I0, is a segmental gear I5I positioned for rotation in a plane spaced rearwardly from the plane of movement of the idler pinion I50. Also pinned to the shaft I0, is a pinion I52 positioned in a plane for meshing engagement with the idler pinion I50. Similarly pinned to the main shaft I2, is a pair of axially spaced segmental gears I53, I54, the gear I53.be-

. ing positioned for meshing engagement with the segmental gear I5I, and the gear I54 being positioned for meshing engagement with the idler pinion I50. The gears I53 and I54 are furthermore angularly-spaced with respect to each other, so that upon continuous rotation of the main drive shaft I2, the gear I53 will engage the segmental gear I5I during approximately 60 of each revolution of the main drive shaft I2, thus producing clockwise rotation of the shaft I0 durin such period. Meanwhile the pinion I52,- being engaged with the idler pinion I50, will produce idle movement thereof. As the segmental gear I53 leaves'engagement with-the segmental gear I5I, the segmental gear I54 willcome into en-- gagement with the idler pinion I50, producing clockwise rotation thereof, the pinion I52 being I accordingly rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, thus producing reverse rotation of the shaft I0, returning it to its initial position. It willfurther be noted that after the shaft I0 has been returned to its initial position, the segmental'gear tionary in its initial position during the remainder of the revolution of the main drive shaft II. The several segmental gears are so arranged arigularly upon their respective shafts in relation 7 to each other, so that the shaft I0 will be stationary in its initial position during the intermittent movement periods of the baking trays and plate conveyer I8 and, on the other hand,

will perform a to-and-fro rocking movement through an angle of approximately 180 during the stationary phase of the baking trays and the plate conveyer I8.

Pinned to the shaft I0 for rocking movement in a vertical plane spaced substantiallyforwardly of the forward or exit end of the oven tunnel H, is a bent carry-over arm I55 having an angularly bent section I58 provided at its end with a flat scoop-like receptacle I5I,-which is so positioned as to lieflatwise upon one of the plates 80 during the stationary cycle of the plate conveyer III. The scoop I5I is beveled at its forward edge and provided around its other three margins with upstanding retaining walls I55.

The smalllsprocket chain I0, as has been previously pointed out, extends horizontally along, the

upper run I8 of the plate conveyor I9 adjacent one longitudinal margin thereof and is provided with a plurality of pusher flights I59 spaced by a distance equal to the over-all length of one of the plates 80, and extending horizontally outwardly at right angles to the chain for a length preferably equal to the width of the plates 80. The chains 10 and pusher flights I59 are so timed that a pusher flight will be moved down and around into overlying registration with the rearward edge of each one of the plates 80 and, as it is progressed forwardly, such pusher flight I58 engagement along its lower margin with the up wardly presented faces thereof by means of compression springs I82 disposed around the posts I 60 intermediate the under face of the post head and the upper face of the blade I6I, as best seen in Figure 6.

Suitably journaled at its ends in and extending through a pair of angularly opposed supporting ears I63, also rigidly mounted on any convenient or accessible portion of the machine framework, is a rotating shaft I64 provided intermediate its journaled portions with a cylindrical brush I65 of such size and thickness as to have constant brushing engagement along a line extending obliquely across the entire width of each of the plates 80 as it progresses forwardly along the prescribed path of its movement. At its outwardly extended end, the shaft I 64 is operatively connected to a small high-speed electric motor I66, which is connected through the conventional lead wires I61 to the main switch I5, so that the brush will be driven continuously at a high rate of speed and in such direction as to sweepthe residual particles rearwardly and sidewardly oil? the plates 80 whenever the machine is in operation.

Also rigidly mounted on suitably convenient portions of the machine framework, is a chute I68 having an upper enlarged end portion I68 positioned along the outer side margin of the plate eonveyer I9 and beneath the brush I65 and scraper I6 I, being at its lower end positioned over the opentopped receptacle I69 removably mounted in a suitable bracket I16 formed on the side margin of the machine base I, all as best seen in Figure 1 and for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Rearwardly of the shell 99, is a small tank I1I provided with a removable top I12 and a conical bottom I13 provided at its lower extremity with a transversely extending elongated aperture I14 positioned directly above an idler roll I15, which is, in turn, on its under face in contacting engagement with an oppositely rotating contact roll I16, the latter on its under side being in contacting engagement with the upper face of each plate 66 as its passes therebeneath.

In use, a suitable free-flowing so-ealled selfgreasin'g dough or batter is placed in the batter tank 46. Similarly, a suitable uncooked fillingpatty material, such as, for instance, ground meat or hamburger, is charged into the storage hopper 98 beneath the piston I68. Finally, a suitable, preferably liquid, cooking oil or grease, such as corn oil, melted lard, or melted butter, is charged into the tank I1I. The main switch is thereupon closed, completing the electrical circuit to the driving motor I4, which, in turn, takes up rotary driving movement which is transmitted through the gear reduction mechanism to the shaft I2. The rotary movement of the shaft I2 is continuously transmitted through the sprocket 55 and the chain 54 to the sprocket 53, producing rotation of the shaft and agitator blades 52 in the batter tank 46, providing continuous agitation thereof, so that the batter will retain its uniformity. Through the bevel gears I6 and the Geneva gears 63, 15, the sprocket 62 and its supported plate conveyer 19 is moved forwardly in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 4 with an intermittent or stepwise movement by which each one of the plates 86 is progressed for a distance equal to its own length and stopped for a predetermined interval. Similarly, through the Geneva gears I1, I8, the sprocket 22, and its associated chain 3I will be moved in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 1 in an intermittent movement whereby the baking trays 46 will each be progressed to a distance equal to its own length and then brought to rest for a predetermined time in synchronized timed relation to the movement of the plates 86. so that, as the baking trays 46 move rearwardly beneath the plate conveyor 19, one of the plates 86 will move downwardly or into closure-forming relationship over each of the baking trays 66 and move with it rearwardiy through the oven tunnel 92, all as best seen in Figure 4.

As has been above pointed out, the batter spouts 49, 56, are positioned directly above one of the baking trays 46 when the latter are stationary. Similarly, the patty spout H2 is positioned directly above one of the plates 66 when the plate chain is stationary.

The segmental gear I53 is timed for engagement with the segmental gear I5I as the baking conveyer 36 and the plate conveyer 19 come to rest. Thus, during the stationary period of the baking conveyer 36 and the plate conveyer 19, the shaft I6 will be rotated through an angle of approximately as above described, at which instant the gear I53 will move out of contact with the gear I5I and the gear I54 will come into contact with the idler gear I56, which is, in turn, in meshing engagement with the gear I52 for reversely swinging the shaft I6 to its initial position. This rocking movement of the shaft simultaneously swings the cam I36 downwardly in a clockwise direction, allowing the rock arm I22 to be drawn backwardly under the influence of the spring I12 and withdrawing the cut-off plate I24 from beneath the spout 49, thereby allowing a charge of batter to flow downwardly into the particular tray 46 which happens to have come to rest from beneath. At the same time, the cam I36, in rotating through 186, urges the rock arm II 1 in the direction of the hopper 98, thereby moving the cut-off plate II4 beneath the patty spout H2 and shearing off the downwardly depending portion of filling material in the formation of a single patty, which will drop downwardly upon the particular plate 86 which has come to rest therebeneath. At the same time, the small sprocket II will be rotated through a half turn, which movement will be communicated through the chain I33 and the gears I34, I35, to the crescent-shaped arm' I31 which will move upwardly and throw over the particular baking tray 46 which has come to rest above it from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 9, as above described. Simultaneously, at the forward end of the machine, the rocking movement of the shaft I6 will cause the carryover arm I55 to swing from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5.

Upon the reverse swinging movement of the shaft I6, each of the above described operations will be carried out in the reverse direction, so that the cut-off plate H4 is withdrawn from beneath the patty spout I I2, the cut-off plate I24 is moved forwardly beneath the spout 49, cutting off the further flow of batter, the crescentshaped arm I31 is retrogressively moved to original position, returning the particular baking tray 46 to initial upright position, and the carryover arm I56 is also swung backwardly to original position.

Subsequent to the completion of the backward and forward rotation of the shaft I6, together with the associated movements controlled thereby, the Geneva movement drive gears I1, I8,- and 63, 15, will again come into operative driving engagement, respectively, and move the baking conveyer 36 and the plate -conveyer 19 forwardly one position, whereupon they will again come to rest and the above described operations will be repeated.

It will thus be evident that as each plate 86 stops beneath the patty spout II2, it will receive a patty. Similarly, as each baking tray 46 stops beneath the spout 49, it will receive a charge of batter. It should furthermore be specifically pointed out in this connection that the size of the spout 49 must be such as to allow only enough batter to flow out as will approximately half fill the baking tray 46 in the time allotted for this phase of operation.

As the patty-holding plates 86 move forwardly they will enter the cooking oven 9| and the patty carried thereby will be thoroughly cooked during the course of travel therethrough. The

degree of cooking, of course, may be controlled.

by adjusting the temperature of the electric heating units 93, 94. At the same time, the dough charged into the baking trays will spread out underthe influence of gravity in a uniformly thick smooth layer and the baking tray will then beprogressed into the oven tunnel M, in which the dough will be partially baked so as to be of substantially self-supporting non-fluid consistency.

As the cooking plates leave the forward end of the oven tunnel 9|, one of the pusher members I58 of the chain 10 will move downwardly along the rear edge so as to prevent accidental rearward displacement of the patty thereon and will move forward with the cooking plate 80 as the latter passes beneath the sharpened transverse edge of the scoop portion I51 of the carryover arm I56. The cooked patty will thereupon be forced upwardly into the scoop portion I51. Meanwhile, one of the baking trays 40 with its partially baked dough-body will move outwardly from the oven tunnel l l.

Now, as the baking conveyer 30 and the plate conveyer I9 come to rest, a cooked patty will be carried over and deposited in centrally positioned relationship upon the partially baked doughbody in the baking tray 10. Since the doughbody therein is of self-supporting non-fluid consistency, the patty will be substantially supported thereby.

As the baking conveyer 30 moves forwardly, the plates 80 will next come to rest beneath the batter spout 50, at which point a second charge of batter will be deposited therein sufilcientto completely cover and encase the meat patty with a top covering of substantially the same thickness as the bottom'formed by the already partially baked dough-body in the completion of a sandwich. The thus filled baking trays 40 will now move around the end of the machine along the reversely extending reach of the sprocket chain 24 and be moved beneath the reversely moving run 19" of the plate conveyer l9.

Each plate 80 of the plate conveyer 19, after discharging its meat patty into the scoop I51, will move beneath the scraper l6! and the brush I65, being thereby cleaned of all excess grease or adhering particles as it moves downwardly and, into overlying or closureforming position over the particular baking tray 40 with which it is associated. The now completely filled and covered baking trays 40 will thence progress rear- Wardly through the lower baking tunnel 92, the plates 80 serving to prevent overflow of the dough as it raises and also to insure more uniform and complete baking of the entire sandwich. It will be noted, by reference to Figure 4, that the electrical heating element 95 extends entirely along the entire length of the baking tunnel 92, whereas the heating element 96 extends only over the rearward half of the bottom thereof in order that the entirely unbaked top portion of the sandwich may be heated and baked more rapidly so as to be quickly brought to the same state or condition as the bottom half, whereupon both the top and bottom of the sandwich will be exposed to heat and the cookingthereof completed. As the baking trays 40 and the plates 80 move outwardly from the oven tunnel 92, the plates 80 will move upwardly away from the baking trays and the latter will move around the rear end of the machine along the forwardly extending reach of the sprocket chain 23, as best seen in Figure 4. As the baking tray 60, containing a completely finished and baked sandwich, comes to rest over the crescent-shaped arm I31; it will be swung over into upsidevdown positionand brought to rest abruptly against the stop projection-M0. whereby the sandwich will be jarred out of the baking tray andwill be dropped into the bin or discharge receptacle ill, which may be of any conventional design and which preferably extends forwardly beneath the cooking tunnels 9|,

-92, so that the excess heat therefrom will serve receptacle "1, another sandwich will be discharged at every cycle of the machine in a continuous and uninterrupted manner. It will, of course, be understood that the machine may be speeded up or slowed down, depending upon the volume of sandwiches required in any unit of time, in which case thele'ngth or temperature of the various cooking tunnels must be adjusted, so that the dough and patty will be properly baked and cooked. In the case of an extremely high-speed machine, itwill be necessary to provide relatively long baking tunnels. On the other hand, in the case of a relatively low-speed ma chine, the baking tunnels may be materially shorter in length, since the dough and patty will move therethrough at a slower rate.

I have found that the sandwiches made in accordance with my present invention are extremely delectable, being of uniform texture and quality, and having an outer light-brown crust which is appealing both in appearance and taste. In addition to this, it is possible by mypresent'invention; to provide sandwiches at exceptionally low cost, since the relatively large item of labor cost is almost entirely eliminated. Finally, it is possible, by my present invention, to provide sandwiches at an unusually rapid ratein a sanitary hygienic manner, since the sandwich itself during the entire course of its manufacture is not touched by human hands.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the sandwich machine may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. A sandwich machine comprising a first oven, a second oven, means for receiving a predetermined quantity of dough and progressing the same through the first oven at a predetermined speed in relation to the temperature of the oven, means for disposing an edible sandwich filler upon the dough after the same leaves the first oven, means for disposing a second predetermined quantity of dough in overlying relationship upon the sandwich filler in the formation of asandwich, andmeans for progressing the thus formed sandwich through the second oven for complete baking. 4

2. A sandwich machine comprising aplurality of open top baking trays connected in'a continuous series, means for moving said trays along an endless path, means positioned "at a" predeter-l mined point alongthe path for partially filling said trays with a predetermined quantity of dough, means positioned at a successive point along the path for baking said dough, means positioned at a further successive point for introducing a sandwich filling patty upon said dough, means positioned at a further point along said path for introducing a second quantity of dough in the formation of a sandwich, and means for completely baking the thus formed sandwich.

3. A sandwich machine comprising a plurality of open-top baking trays connected in a continuous series, means for moving said trays along an endless path, means positioned at a predetermined point along the path for partially filling said trays with a predetermined quantity of dough, means positioned at a successive point along the path for baking said dough, means positioned at a further successive point for introducing a sandwich filling patty upon said dough, means positioned at a further point along said path for introducing a second quantity of dough in the formation of a sandwich, means for completely baking the thus formed sandwich, and means for removing the completed sandwiches from the respective trays.

4. A sandwich machine comprising, in combination, a plurality of open-top baking trays connected in a continuous series, means for moving said trays along an endless path, means for partially filling said trays with a predetermined quantity of dough, means for baking said dough, means for introducing a sandwich filling patty upon said dough, means for introducing a second quantity of dough in the formation of a sandwich, and means for completely baking the thus formed sandwich.

5. A sandwich machine comprising a plurality of endwise connected cooking plates for prepar ing a sandwich filling patty, means for progressing said plates in stepwise motion, means operable in timed relation to the movement of the plates for disposing the prepared patty between a partially baked dough-body and an entirely unbaked dough-body, and means for completely baking said dough-bodies.

6. A sandwich machine comprising a plurality of endwise connected cooking plates arranged in the form of a horizontal conveyer having upper and lower runs, means for intermittently progressing the cooking plates, means for placing a meat patty on each of said plates, means disposed over said upper conveyer run for cooking each meat patty, means for baking a dough-body, means for disposing a cooked patty upon the dough-body, means for placing a second doughbody over the meat patty, and means for subsequently baking the assembled meat patty and dough-bodies in the formation of a finished sandwich.

7. A sandwich machine comprising a plurality of endwise connected cooking plates arranged in the form of a horizontal conveyer having upper and lower runs, means for intermittently progressing the cooking plates, means for placing a meat patty on each of said plates, means disposed over said upper conveyer run for cooking each meat patty, a plurality of shallow trays connected in a consecutive series, means for progressing said trays in stepwise motion, means operable in timedrelation to the movement of the trays for disposing the cooked patty between a partially baked dough-body and an entirely unbaked dough-body, and means for completely baking said dough bodies.

8. A sandwish machine comprising, in combination, a plurality of open-top baking trays connected in a continuous series, means for moving said trays along an endless path, means for partially filling said trays with a predetermined quantity of dough, means for baking said dough, means for introducing a sandwich filling patty upon said dough, means for introducing a second quantity of dough in the formation of a sandwich, means for covering said trays after introduction of said second quantity of dough, and means for completely baking the thus formed sandwich.

9. A sandwich machine comprising a plurality of open-topped baking trays arranged in a consecutive series for movement along an endless path substantially in a horizontal plane, and a plurality of cooking plates connected in a consecutive series for movement along an endless path substantially in a vertical plane and having upper and lower horizontal runs, the latter being disposed over the path of the trays and so positioned with respect thereto that, as each tray moves beneath the path of the plates, one of said plates will move into overlying closure-forming registration with such tray and travel with the same for a predetermined distance.

10. A sandwich machine comprising a plurality of open-topped baking trays arranged in a consecutive series for movement along an endless path substantially in a horizontal plane, a plurafity of cooking plates connected in a consecutive series for movement along an endless path substantially in a vertical plane and having upper and lower horizontal runs, the latter being disposed over the path of the baking trays and so positioned with respect thereto that, as each tray moves beneath the path of the plates, one of said plates will move into overlying closure-forming registration with such tray and travel with the same for a predetermined distance, and an oven tunnel positioned over the covered trays along that portion of the tray path in which the trays and plates are together.

11. A sandwich machine comprising a base, first, second, and third oven tunnels mounted on the base, first and second conveyor means operatively mounted on the base, said second conveyor means being adapted for the preparation of a sandwich filler, driving means operatively connected to both of said conveyor means for driving said conveyor means in predetermined timed relation, said first conveyor means being adapted to move successively through the first and second ovens, said second conveyor means being adapted to move through the first oven, and means operatively interposed between said first and second conveyor means for transferring the sandwich patty from the second conveyor means to the first conveyor means.

12. A sandwich machine comprising a base, first, second, and third oven tunnels mounted on the base, first and second conveyor means operatively mounted on the base, said second conveyor means being adapted for the preparation of a sandwich filler, driving means operatively connected to both of said conveyor means for driving said conveyor means in predetermined timed relation, said first conveyor means being adapted to move successively through the first and second ovens, said second conveyor means being adapted to move through the first oven, means operatively interposed between said first and second conveyor means for transferring the sandwich patty from the second conveyor means to the first conveyor means, means mounted on the base and actuated by the driving means for depositing a dough-body upon the first conveyor means prior arm, an open-topped scoop-like tray mounted. on the outer end of said arm, and means for pushing a sandwich patty upon the'tray for 10 transferring the patty from the point of preparation to a point of assembly in the sandwich. W

14. In a sandwich machine, a conveyor chain having a plurality of open-topped baking trays swingably mounted thereon and normally sup- 15 ported in upright horizontal position, and discharge means including a rockable arm adapted upon actuation to move upwardly into engagement with the under side of a tray and swing the same into inverted position for discharging the 20 contents thereof. p

15. In a sandwich machine, a conveyor vchain having a plurality of open-topped baking trays 16. In. a sandwich machine, an, endless chain disposed for movement in a horizontal p1ane,-a 5 slide track mounted concentrically around and outwardly of the chain, a plurality of baking trays swingably mounted at spaced points along the chain and havingshoulder portions slidably,

disposed upon the track for normally supporting a the tray in substantially horizontal position, and

means positioned at a predetermined point adjacent to the chain for overturning the trays.

17. In a sandwich machine, an endless chain disposed for movement in a horizontal plane, a 45 slide track mounted concentrically around and outwardly of the chain, a plurality of baking trays swingably mounted at spaced points along the chain and having shoulder portions slidably disposed upon the track for normally supporting the tray in substantially horizontal position, a stop-abutment positioned at a predetermined point adjacent'the track, and means for succ'es- ,sively overturning the trays against the abutment withsuflicient jarring force to' dislodge the ,5?

contents thereof.

18. In a sandwich machine, a cooking plate having, oppositely presented pairs of registering hinge-eyes,.and opposed upstanding flanges extending longitudinally, between the pairs of eyes,. the transverse margins of the plate being deformed downwardly in the provision of drain lips.

, 19. In a sandwich machine; a cooking plate having oppositely presented pairs of registering hinge-eyes, and opposed upstanding flanges extending longitudinally between the pairs of eyes, the transverse margins of the plate being deformed downwardly in the provision of V- shaped drain lips.

20. A sandwich machine including a plurality of plates connected in a continuous series, driving means for intermittently progressing said plates along an endless path, a sandwich-filling, hopper positioned at a predetermined point along said path, means actuable during movement of the plates for extruding from the hopper a predetermined quantity of sandwich-filling, and means actuable during the stationary intervals of the plates for severing and depositing the extruded portion of filling upon said plates in the formation of a patty.

21. A sandwich machine comprising driving means, first intermittently actuable means connected to the driving means for preparinga plurality of successive sandwich-fillings atv spaced intervals of time, means disposed in spaced juxtaposition to and movable with the first means i for holding a partially baked dough-body, inter- 

